[AGA-Contest] reasons for marine exemption (fwd)

[Erik Olson <erik@thekrib.com>]

---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Sun, 05 Jun 2005 17:09:45 +0000
From: S. Lardizabal <slardizabal@comcast.net>
To: showcase@aquatic-gardeners.org
Subject: reasons for marine exemption

I have been keeping a small seagrass tank for months now with the 
intention of keeping it in the style of traditional freshwater planted 
tanks, veritably creating a saltwater planted tank.  Its still a very 
small and obscure part of marine aquaria, but its got a little momentum at 
the moment.  I had planned to enter it either later this year when it 
looks settled and well-grown, or next year when the tank is far and away 
mature.

I was just wondering if the AGA would reconsider its standing on the point 
of exempting marine aquaria from submission.  I very much agree with 
keeping reef tanks out of the picture as they are rarely designed 
artistically enough to meet this challenge.  I also agree with keeping out 
most marine aquaria as a rule.  However, this seagrass tank, built and 
designed from the perspective of a former freshwater planted keeper, might 
be a really interesting entry in the showcase and might prompt a little 
extension of what we consider to be a planted tank.

The tank is planted with only vascular plants at the moment, as I cannot 
find many macroalgae's that fit into my biotope plans.  Also, this tank 
was built in the tradition that Steven Pituch started with his Texas 
watershed tank back in the 2001 contest.  The substrate, the inhabitants 
and all the plants were collected out of the Indian River Lagoon system on 
the Space Coast of eastern Florida.  The intention was for it to be a true 
recreation of a seagrass meadow, with some simple artistic enhancements. 
There are currently four species of seagrass, grass shrimp (Palaemonetes 
vulgaris) and a small fighting conch (Strombus sp.).  Future inhabitants 
are to include either Hippocampus erectus or Hippocampus zosterae, lined 
and dwarf seahorses, depending on what I can find that is captive bred. 
These are the only elements of the tank that will actually be purchased.

In my opinion the tank is approximating the seagrass biotope as found off 
of the Florida Keys as best as can be had in a confined environment.  The 
seagrass do not have epiphyte covering their leaves which is the only 
major detractor I can find at the moment for the authenticity of this 
setup.

So, please let me know your thoughts on considering a slight extension on 
the brackish water category to include a full blown marine tank.  I 
noticed that several years ago one of the biotope entries was a mangrove 
tank, and this is literally just a few feet off the beach from here to a 
seagrass tank.  I, of course, respect your decision if you ultimately 
decide to not extend the category, but I would like to know if there is 
anything I can do to change your mind over the next year or so.  I had 
really hoped to share this tank through the contest.

To see the evolution of the tanks (the first was a 10 gallon test tank and 
NOT an aquascaped design, built mostly for propagation to fill a 20 gallon 
for aquascaping) please visit my website at 
http://home.comcast.net/~slardizabal/home.html and go marine.  The only 
species not included in the test tank was Thalassia testudinum, turtle 
grass, due to bed size requirements.  It now appears in the aquascaped 
twenty gallon - an update for this tank will be appearing soon.

Thank you very much for your time!  I appreciate all the work that goes 
into the AGA contest and have a lot of respect for all the work the 
entrants put into their tanks each year and of course the judging 
committee of the AGA as well as all the work that goes into creating and 
hosting the website.  Its a great inspiration to aquarists in many places.

Sincerely -
> Sarah

--
Sarah M. Lardizabal
Wildlife Conservation
Green Lab/DBI x4642 rm. 289
University of Delaware
(302) 690 - 7131
slardizabal@comcast.net
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